Grease gun



Feb; 17, 1959 R. R. FARRELL GREASE GUN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21, 1956 [FIG 2 INVENTOR RICHARD R. FARRELL Feb. 17, 1959 R. R. FARRELL GREASE GUN 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21, 1956 FIG 3 INVENTOR RICHARD R. FARRELL gy vmw United States Patent 6 GREASE GUN Richard R. FarrelhAspinwall, 'Pa., assignor to Universal Lubricating Systems, Inc., Oakmont, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application May 21, 1956, Serial N o.-586,024

10 Claims. (Cl. 222-326) pla at n and illustration as embod ed in-whatis "kn wn in the trade as a hand gun and specifically tothe species o n s n w ic is known in t e tradeas a-f.l ver' .su lt ugh n certain o its aspectsthe nventionis n s limited. I

Heretofore grease guns of the type .above mentigned have had their own grease receiving compartments which had to be filled with grease and the grease replenished a i was used p- Ihe filli g wi h c ea ed t rease omp tme s o h s ms as accomp ish either y sucking in the grease by drawing hack a plunger or by introducing the grease incrementby increment using a suitable tool. In either case the operation was ineiiicient and messyand the ,gun relatively costly jsince the grease receiving compartmentconstituteda permanent part of the gun itself.

j e e i e a han gu wh chfi. the form shown in t d aw gs an he einaft des ribed. is of t leue yp t h n e ta f it a p cts, asinsi ated abo .the inv n ion y h emp oyed i u and guns of h r types in which means other than a lever is employed ijo r exerting pressure on the greaseto force the grease into the grease receiving fitting. I My grease gun is adapted for application to or combinationwith a container coni g gr as so tha the pe manent greas gunstructur'e itself-does not include any grease receiving compartment. Grease is cu toma ily Packaged in cans .lnapp yiug my greasegun toa can of grease the can lidj-is removed and the gre se gun and ca a e assembled to eacho h iliu such way that the can is su st nt ally seale to.,-the greasetgun whilemeans forminga part of the gun exert pressure on the grease in the can to wforcethe grease out through a grease delivery portion forming part of the gun into grease receiving fittings. The-,means forming a part -of the gun exerting pressure .on then-grease may he n h fo m .o a plu g .Wh ch i p e ahly pring pres sed toexert pressure on the grcase. While ,the spring acting against the plunger mighthe suflicient without more to produce .enough pressure on the grease to deliver the grease to a greasereceiving httingwhich does. Inot offer great resistancezto reception of the grease I preferably provideadditional.nieans jor forcing the grease put through the grease delivery portion of the gun .to overcorne substanti al 'resistance which is often encountered in grease receiving fittings. I

My c as gun comp i s-aportion a ap d o h applied to an opening in a container containing greaseto v w I ;said portion of the :gun, -I prefer to provide a second substantially "seal withthe container, a grease de cry till portion, a conduit adapted 'to communicate with the in- 'terior of the container and communicating with the grease delivery portion and means for forcing greasethrough the conduit.

In .a preferred form my grease gun comprises a portion adapted to be applied to an opening in a container containing grease to substantially seal with the container, .a plunger connected with said portion and adapted to enter the containerand substantially seal against the ,inner wall thereof so as to force grease in the container away from the opening, spring means adapted to urgethe Plunger into the container, the plunger having a passage therethrough through which grease from within the container may pass, a grease delivery portion and a conduit communicating with the passage through the plunger and with the grease delivery portion to convey to the grease delivery portion grease passing through the passage in the plunger. Preferably impelling means are additionally provided for forcing grease through the conduit.

My grease gun preferably includes a stem projecting from the portion of the gun which is adapted to be applied to an opening in a container containing grease to substantially seal with the container, the stem being adapted to enter the container, and the plunger, is preferably disposed about and slidable along the stem. The stem preferably has a passage therethrough through which grease from within the container may pass, and the conduit which conveys the grease to the grease delivery portion ofthe gun communicates with the passage through the stem.

The. plunger is preferably laterally shiftablerelatively to thestem to enable the plunger to accommodate itself to thewall of a misshapen container. 1 preferably provide a washer closely embracing the stem but slidable therealong and position the plunger against the washer, the plunger having an opening therein which receives the stem-which is of substantially greater transverse vdimension than the stem to provide for lateral shifting of the plunger relatively to the stem. The plunger should be on the pressure sideof the washer so that the pressure of the grease pressesthe plunger against the washer. ll findit desirable to use two washers, one on each, sidc of the plunger,-the washers .both closely embracing the stem while the openingin the plunger is of substantially greater transverse dimension than the stem. The spring means acting on the plunger preferably tact thereon through the washer at the side of the plunger at which the spring means are disposed. The extremity .of the stern maybe somewhat enlarged, .as by expanding .the same withan .expandingtool, to prevent .theouter washer from moving off of the stem which in turn retains the plunger on-the stem.

' The portion of thegun which is adaptedtobeapplied to the opening in the container 3 containing grease. to substantially seal with the container -may seal or lit to the containersufficiently tightly that the container-is held in place in the grease gun thereby without any other holding means. Howevenespecially since the tendency of the plunger is to force the container awayffrom portion of the gun cooperating with the first mentioned portion and adapted to engage the container-at a location remote from the first mentioned.p0rti0n to maintain the container in position relatively to the first .mentjoned -portion. More specifically, my grease gun may comprise a supporting element, a portion supported by the supporting element adapted to be applied :to an opening in a container containing grease tofsubstantially seal with the container anda holding device .carriedby the supporting element'and movable between inoperative position and operative position .in engagement with the,

asrsees container at a location remote from said portion to maintain the container in position relatively to said portion. The holding device preferably has a part which when the holding device is in operative position is in locked position relatively to the supporting element to prevent inadvertent movement of the holding device to inoperative position.

In the present preferred form of grease gun the supporting element has a portion formed as a handle and impelling means are provided for forcing grease through the conduit which communicates with the grease delivery portion of the gun and an operating member is provided which is connected with the supporting element and has a portion formed as a handle disposed substantially opposite the handle of the supporting element for operating the impelling means. Thus one of the handles may be held in one hand and the other handle in the other hand and the gun operated similarly to operating a bellows.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention in which Figure l is a view of a lever gun before application thereto of a can of grease;

Figure 2 is a view showing how the can of grease is applied to the gun; and

Figure 3 is a view showing the gun with the can of grease applied thereto ready for use in the lubrication of grease receiving fittings.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the grease gun shown therein is, as above indicated, a hand gun and more-specifically a lever gun. It comprises a supporting element 2 having a portion 3 formed' as a handle. Rigidly fastened to the supporting element 2 so as in effect to form an integral part thereof is a cylinder 4 having a bore therethrough which is closed at the extreme lower end of the cylinder viewing each of the figures of the drawings. Connected with the cylinder 4 and communicating with the bore therein adjacent the closed end thereof is a grease delivery portion 5 having at its extremity a coupler 6 which may be of any appropriate construction adapted for application to a grease receiving fitting so that grease delivered under pressure by the gun may 'be forced into the fitting.

Also connected with the cylinder 4 in the region of the mid-portion of the cylinder is a stem 7 having a bore completely therethrough from end to end and the left hand end of which, viewing the drawings, communi cates with the bore in the cylinder 4. The stem 7 is rigid with the supporting element 2, the cylinder 4 and the grease delivery portion 5. The right hand end of the stem 7 is enlarged as by operating thereon with an expanding tool. Two washers 8 are disposed about the stem and closely embrace the stem although being slidable therealong. Disposed about'the stem between the two washers 8 is a plunger 9. The opening in the plunger 9 is of substantially greater transverse dimension than the stem 7 to provide for lateral shifting of the plunger relatively to the stem to enable the plunger to accommodate itself to the wall of a misshapen container. The plunger may be of any suitable material such as metal or plastic but preferably has a flexible rim portion 10 adapted to substantially seal against the inner wall of the container. For example the plunger may consist of a rubber disk with a hole through the the plunger to substantially seal against the inner wall of the container. The plunger 9 together with the washers 8 is movable along the rigid hollow stem 7 and as above explained the plunger is also laterally shiftable relatively to the stem.

Rigidly connected with the cylinder 4 is a portion 11 which as shown is in the shape of a flanged metal cap which is adapted to be applied to an opening in a container containing grease to substantially seal with the container. The stem 7 passes through the portion 11 so that the bore in the stem communicates with the bore in the cylinder 4 as above explained.

A piston 12 operates in the cylinder 4, the upper end of the cylinder as shown in the drawings being open. The piston 12 is pivoted at 13 to an operating member 14 having a portion 15 formed as a handle disposed substantially opposite the handle -3 as shown in the drawings. A link 16 is pivoted. to the supporting element 2 at 17 and to the operating member 14 at 18, enabling the operating member to be turned substantially about the pivot 18 to operate the piston 12 in the cylinder 4. When the piston 12 is withdrawn upwardly its forward end moves past the junction between the bore in the stem 7 and the bore in the cylinder permitting grease to move from the stern into the cylinder. When the piston is moved generally downwardly as shown in the drawings its forward end closes the entrance to the stern and forces the grease in the cylinder through the grease delivery portion 5.

Pivoted to the supporting element 2 at 19 is a holding device designated generally by reference numeral 20 and comprising a holding portion 21 and a handle portion 22. The holding device 20 is shown in inoperative position in Figures 1 and 2 and in operative position in Figure 3. The handle portion 22 of the holding device 20 is shaped to substantially lock to the handle 3 when the holding device is in operative position. The handle portion 22 is of approximately semicircular cross section but shaped so that when it is moved to the position of Figure 3 its sides are in tight engagement with the handle 3 or moved by slight springing movement into locked position relatively thereto.

A compression coil spring 23 is disposed between the portion 11 and the washer 8 which is nearer to the portion 11 to urge the plunger 9 generally toward the right viewing the drawings but permitting the plunger to be forced toward the left, compressing the spring. The grease gun before being put into use is shown in Figure 1. Figure 2 shows a can full of grease being applied to the grease gun. The can lid has been removed and the can is applied so that the plunger 9 enters the can and substantially seals against the inner wall thereof. The can is held in the right hand and moved toward the left viewing Figure 2 while the grease gun is held in the left hand. The plunger 9 presses against the grease in the gun but grease is prevented from passing out through the grease delivery portion 5 during application of the can by reason of the fact that the piston 12 in the cylinder 4 is in position to close off communication between the bore in the stem 7 and the bore in the cylinder 4. The spring 23 is compressed and the rim of the can moves into embracing relationship about the portion 11 so as to substantially seal therewith. It may be that the portion 11 will fit into the rim of the can sufficiently tightly that no other means is required to hold the can in assembly with the grease gun while the grease gun is in use. However, especially since the tendency of the spring 23 is to force the can away from the portion 11, it is desirable to provide the holding device 20. When the can has been fully applied with its rim embracing the portion 11 of the grease gun the holding device 20 is moved to operative position as shown in Figure 3 with its holding portion 21 pressed against the bottom of the can and holding the can firmly in place.

In operation of the grease gun, once the can has been applied thereto, the handles 3 and 15 are grasped in the left and right hands of the user respectively, and it ill e n d tha hen hazs e -arasn -the.h...hdl he al s a s t e h nd pa t 11 22 f t e ho d n and hus c t e aui aihst h 186 operative position while the gunis ,i infaddition to th f s t t e o ding d vi is I Q? ate th hand 3 as described above. Ihe :cop

as the handle 15 movcsawayflforn the handle 33 the :pivot 1 18 moves progressively closer ;to -thecylinder 4.

When the retraction of the piston :12 hasestablished communication between the bore in the stem-7 and the bore in the cylinder 4 the force of :the spring-23 acting against the plunger 9-tends to force grease in the can out through the bore in'the stem #7 and the bore in the cylinder 4 and through the grease wdelivery portion 5. Indeed, it little resistanceis offered in the-fitting, that may be sufficient to apply grease thereto. However, in

normal operation the operator moves the handles :3 :and v 15 several times toward-and away tfromreachotherpto in effect pump grease underpressureiof the piston :12 in :the cylinder 4 out through the grease delivery portion 5. The provision of the link 16 approximately parallel to the cylinder 4 provides 'fongreat mechanical advantage and great pressurecanhe exerted on the grease'ihy the piston in the cylinder 4twithcomparatiyely'light pressure forcing the handles 3 and:15 together. I l

Thus it is possible to utilize acan-ofgrease :yvith'the can itself forming the grease containing receptable :or compartment in the grease gun, eliminating .the necessity of transferring grease from its original container .to a grease containing compartment :in the gun; The can may be appliede and the gun used without gettinggrease on the hands. The gun is of rugged construction and low cost, requiring no integral grease receiving compartment. Exceptionally higli 'meclianical advantage is provided for byI-the 'lirikage".-tl1rough whichthe pressure applying piston is h erstssir While I h e shhyh aha des r bed i P t is sic re embodiment o he Jill 5 9F91 his o be. ctly hnde stood. h he in ent on .is not l mited thereto but m y be otherwise arishs wheeled withi the sc p of the following claims.

I claim: 7 v 1 v g s su sq nhrisiash which p ed tomb applied to an opening in a container containing grease to substantially seal with the container, a plunger connected with said portion and adapted to enter the container and substantially seal against the inner wall thereof so as to force grease in the container away from the opening, spring means adapted to urge the plunger into the container, the plunger having a passage therethrough through which grease from within the container may pass, a grease delivery portion and a conduit communicating with the passage through the plunger and with the grease delivery portion to convey to the grease delivery portion grease passing through the passage in the plunger.

2. A grease gun comprising a portion adapted to be applied to an opening in a container containing grease to substantially seal with the container, a plunger connected with said portion and adapted to enter the container and substantially seal against the inner wall thereof so as to force grease in the container away from the opening, spring means adapted to urge the plunger into the container, the plunger having a passage therethrough through which grease from within the container may pass, a grease delivery portion, a conduit commu- '6 h g ease de ive y P03192110 conv y. sheer-cascad li e y portion g ea -pas in a h hus th p sag :in the plunger and impelling means for forcing greasethrongh th a condu .:A s assg n c mpr ing a Po ion adap d-tub ppl ed t n .open ngin a conta n nt uinelv-g ase .to'spbstantially seal with thecontainer, a stem projecting rom sa po tion and "adap t n t e ont n a p u g d pos d a out a d .s ida l a ong th stem an ptedt su tan i lly ea ag ns h nne Wall of the c nta e s a to nfor grease in na ner away from the op ni p n m an adapt d to u t e p u into t e c n a ne the star h vin a p e h through h ug hi g ea rom i n t c a n r may pas a vg d v y por c and v c nd i c mmunic in wi e p sag v. 0 gh th .stem and with the grease delivery portion to convey t th c ea e de ivery po ti n g a pas in th o h the passage through thestern.

.4.. A s easesun comp isin a por io adap d to h 1a'ppliedtoan'opening in a container containing grease to substantially seal with the container, a stem projecting from said portion and adapted to enter the con- ;tainer, 1a plunger disposed about and slidable along the stem andadapted to substantially seal against the inner wall of the container soas to force g ease in the container away from the opening, he plunger 131,150 being laterally shiftable relatively to theistem to enable the plunger itO accommodate :itself to the wall of ,;a misshaped container, spring means adapted to urge the plunger into the container, the stem having 2a passage therethrough-through whichgrease from within the con- :tainermay pass, a greasedeliveryportionand :aconduit communicating ,with the passage through the stem and -with {the grease delivery portion :to convey :to, the grease delivery portion grease passing throughtbe passage through the stem. a

--5. ;A grease gun comprising a portion :adapted to be applied to an opening in a container, containing. grease to substantially seal with the-container, av'stemzprojecting from said portion and adapted to enter the container, a washer closely embracing the stem but slidable therealong, a plunger disposed about and slidable along the stem and adapted :to substantially seal against the inner a l f h cont iner so a to v-iorcecreas t the container away ro t e open ng h 'p un e lyin a in t e he nd ha n n pening t erein whic e ei es the s em whi h s o subst ntial y greater transverse dimension than the stem to provide iorlateral shifting of the plunger relatively-to-the stem to bl h p un er to ccommo ate l-its l t the wall of a misshapen container, spring means adapted to urge the plunger into the container, the stem having a passage therethrough through which grease from within the container may pass, a grease delivery portion and a conduit communicating with the passage through the stem and with the grease delivery portion to convey to the grease delivery portion grease passing through the passage through the stem.

6. A grease gun comprising a portion adapted to be applied to an opening in a container containing grease to substantially seal with the container, a second portion cooperating with the first mentioned portion and adapted to engage the container at a location remote from the first mentioned portion to maintain the container in position relatively to the first mentioned portion, a plunger connected with the first mentioned portion and adapted to enter the container and substantially seal against the inner wall thereof so as to force grease in the container away from the opening, spring means adapted to urge the plunger into the container, the plunger having a passage therethrough through which grease from within the container may pass, a grease delivery portion and a conduit communicating nicating with the passage through the plunger and with with the passage through the plunger and with the grease delivery portion to convey to the greasedelivery portion grease passing through the passage in the plunger.

7. A grease gun comprising a supporting element, a portion supported by the supporting element adapted to be applied to an opening in a container containing grease to substantially seal with the container, a holding device carried by the supporting element and movable between inoperative position and operative position in engagement with the container at a location remote from said portion to maintain the container in position relatively to said portion, a plunger connected with said portion and adapted to enter the container and substantially seal against the inner wall thereof so as to force grease in the container away from the opening, spring means adapted to urge the plunger into the container, the plunger having a passage thcrethrough through which grease from within the container may pass, a grease delivery portion and a conduit communicating with the passage through the plunger and with the grease delivery portion to convey to the grease delivery portion grease passing through the passage in the plunger.

8. A grease gun comprising a supporting element, a portion supported by the supporting element adapted to be applied to an opening in a container containing grease to substantially 'seal with the container, a holding device carried by the supporting element and movable between inoperative position and operative position in engagement with the container at a location remote from said portion to maintain the container in position relatively to said portion, the holding device having a part which when the holding device is in operative position is in locked position relatively to the supporting element to prevent inadvertent movement of the holding device to inoperative position, a plunger connected With said portion and adapted to enter the container and substantially seal against the inner wall thereof so as to force grease in the container away from the opening, spring means adapted to urge the plunger into the container, the plunger having a passage therethrough through which grease from within the container may pass, a grease delivery portion and a conduit communicating with the passage through the plunger and with the grease delivery portion to convey to the grease delivery portion grease passing throughthe passage in the plunger.

9. A grease gun comprising a supporting element having a portion formed as a handle, a portion supported by the supporting element adapted to be applied to an opening in a container containing grease to substantially seal with the container, a plunger connected with said portion and adapted to enter the container and substantially seal again'st -the inner wall thereof so as -to force grease-in the container away from the opening, spring means adapted to urge the plunger into the container, the plunger having a passage therethrough through which grease from within the container may pass, a grease delivery portion, a conduit communicating with the passage through the plunger and with the grease delivery portion to convey to the grease delivery portion grease passing through the passage in the plunger, impelling means for forcing grease through the conduit and an operating member connected with the supporting element and having a portion formed as a handle disposed substantially opposite the handle of the supporting element for operating the impelling means.

10. A grease gun comprising a supporting element having a portion formed as a handle, a portion supported by the supporting element adapted to be applied to an opening in a container containing grease to substantially seal with the container, a holding device carried by the supporting element and movable between inoperative position and operative position in engagement with the container at a location remote from said portion to maintain the container in position relatively to said portion, a plunger connected with said portion and adapted to enter the container and substantially seal against the inner wall thereof so as to force grease in the container away from the opening, spring means adapted to urge the plunger into the container, the plunger having a passage therethrough through which grease from within the container may pass, a grease delivery portion, a conduit communicating with the passage through the plunger and with the grease delivery portion to convey to the grease delivery portion grease passing through the passage in the plunger, impelling means for forcing grease through the conduit and an operating member connected with the supporting element and having a portion formed as a handle disposed substantially opposite the handle ofthe supporting element for operating the impelling means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,379,471 Mood May 24, 1921 1,628,624 Liverance May 10, 1927 1,690,058 Davis Oct. 30, 1928 1,761,875 Cordell et al. June 3, 1930 1,941,140 Dodge Dec. 26, 1933 2,106,023 Fear Jan. 18, 1938 2,461,211 Guthrie Feb. 8, 1949 2,530,359 Peterson Nov. 14, 1950 

